Container closure



Sept 1968 o. J. BRIDENSTINE 3,402,847

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed June 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l j INVENTOR.

J O.J. BR! DENSTI NE A 7' TORNEVS p 24, 1968 o. J. BRIDENSTINE 3,402,847

. CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed June 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. O.J.BR|DENSTINE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,402,847 CONTAINER CLOSURE Orville J. Bridenstine, Bartlesville, Okla, assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 16, 1967, Ser. No. 646,520 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-33) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A utility container closure is made with openings on either side of the center handle and is further provided with a disc having matching openings attached to the outer closure which is rotatable by means of lugs extending through slots in the perimeter of the outer closure and which disc can be spring biased so that in a normally closed position matching openings are covered by the outer closure. In an alternative embodiment, a form fitted disc snaps into the handle of the outer closure and when closed sheds water and dirt to the outside.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a new and improved receptacle.

Heretofore, covered receptacles such as utility or trash cans have primarily utilized substantially only frictional contact between the cover member, or top, and the body, or receptacle portion. Generally, in order to be of any functional value, this frictional Contact had to be of a substantial nature, in which case removal of the top is diflicult, especially when the receptacle is empty and/or only one hand is available to effect such removal. Also, oftentimes repeated removal of the top is effected only with substantial damage to the top itself, and particularly the handle means fixed to the top.

It is known that a covered receptacle can be formed without reliance upon frictional contacts and from which the top member can be easily removed with substantially no damage thereto by employing a plurality of spacedapart, outwardly extending, downwardly sloped thread means attached to the upper periphery of the body pOrtion of the receptacle adjacent the top thereof and a similar plurality of thread means, which slope downwardly in the same manner as the thread means on the body portion, on the lower periphery of the cover member adjacent its bottom. By the use of these thread members, the top can be placed down over the body portion and the thread members of the top caused to engage the thread members of the body portion by twisting the top relative to the body portion, thereby easily locking the top into the body portion without resort to substantial friction forces. However, the thread enclosure must be completely removed from the container before items can be deposited into the container. This, of course, is also true of other utility can lids not employing threads.

It has been found that existing closure members can be modified so that they are provided with areas which can be semi-automatically or manually opened for a quick and easy container access. This eliminates the need for removing the entire bulky closure, except at times when large deposits are necessary.

Summary of the invention In accordance with the invention, the closure for receptacles is made with one or more openings and a disc with matching openings is attached so that the two sections may rotate into alignment or off-setting position. Suitable means for rotating the insert disc are provided and a spring biased return can be used.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, utility can or container closure is formed with two openings on either side of the center handle and a disc with two matching openings is attached to the outer closure by a bolt through the center handle and the disc is rotatable by two connecting lugs extending through slots in the perimeter of the outer closure and in a preferred embodiment in the disc spring biased by a coil spring around the center bolt. In the normal position, the closure and disc openings are apart.

In a further embodiment, the closure comprises a form fitted disc which snaps into the handle bolt of the outer closure and when closed sheds water and dirt to the outside. In this embodiment, the inner lid or disc is rotatable within the outer lid by snap-in feature in the center handle. Rotation of the outer lid clockwise against stops matches openings in both lids for ingress or egress into the container. Rotation counter-clockwise or in the opposite direction against the stop closes the opening and both the inner and outer lid can be removed by further rotation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved covered receptacle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved receptacle closure provided with openings which can be utilized without removing the closure from the container to gain access to the container.

Other aspects, objects, and the several advantages of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims. a

Description of preferred embodiments A better understanding of the invention will be obtained upon reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows a container and a closure of the invention wherein the closure is disassembled;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the handle connection for supporting the rotary plate of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a plan or top view of the container closure of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side view, partially cut away, illustrating the container closure of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a container and another embodiment of the closure of the invention, wherein a snap-in inner lid is provided; and

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the container lid of FIG- URE 5.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated container 10 having an upper lip 11, which lip in turn has thread means 12.

The container closure means of the invention comprises a cover member 13 and a plate member 14. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, in a disassembled view, plate member 14 is connected to cover member 13 by means of bolt assembly 15, which includes washers 16 and 17, and nut 18. Cover member 13 has inwardly extending thread means 19 for engagement with thread means 12 in the container lip when placing the assembled closure onto the container.

Plate member 14, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, has two cut-out sections 20 and 21. Plate member 14 also is provided with post members 22 and 23, each provided with a lobe for connecting to a spring biasing means (not shown) to assist in the closing of member 14. Illustrated above cover member 13 are threaded handles 24 and 25, which when assembled extend through arcuate slots 26 and 27, respectively, and are connected by being screwed into posts 22 and 23.

Cover member 13 is provided with a handle means 28, which is attached to end bosses 29, and mid-point boss 30. Cover member 13 is provided with openings 31 and 32 (not shown), which are 180 apart and which, in turn, are 90 from openings 20 and 21 in plate member 14.

The connection between bolt 15 and plate member 14 is illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated the cover member 13 of the invention in assembled condition, which illustrates the two cut-outs 31 and 32 (these cut-outs are on opposite sides of the formed handle member 28, in a recessed area of the cover member). Plate member 14 is attached through center post 15 from the closure or cover members underside and the center post is used as an axis for rotating purposes. Lugs 24 and 25 extend through arcuate openings 26 and 27 and are connected to plate member 14 to provide ready rotation of plate 14 clockwise so as to match holes 20 and 21 in plate member 14 with holes 31 and 32, respectively, in cover member 13 by rotation through a 90 angle.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an assembly view of the closure of the invention further illustrating spring means 33, which urges plate member 14 to a normally closed position upon release of handle means 24 or 25. It is within the scope of the invention to employ other spring biasing means connected to post 15, or other parts of the lid, to urge the plate to a normally closed position.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES and 6. Referring to FIGURE 5, specifically, there is illustrated a container body 35, covered with an inner lid 36 and outer lid 37 and handle 38. There is a thread fit between the inner lid 36 and body 35. As a further feature of this embodiment, the inner lid snaps into the outer lid. Also, the outer and inner lids have a similar contour.

Referring to FIGURE 6, there is illustrated a top view of the closure in FIGURE 5. As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the inner lid 36 has a stop member 38 and a stop member 38A, which are free to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise within extended portions 39 and 39A of outer lid 37. Outer lid 37 is provided with holes 40 and 41, and inner lid 36 is provided with matching holes 42 and 43.

In operation, the inner lid illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 is rotatable within the outer lid by a snap-in feature in the center handle. Rotation of the outer lid clockwise against the stops matches openings in both inner and outer lids for disposal of waste. Rotation counter-clockwise against the stops closes the openings. Upon further rotation counter-clockwise, both lids can be removed from container body 35.

Example A prototype utility container with closure according to the specifications was constructed from high density polyethylene. The capacity of the can was 20 gallons. The overall height of the reecptacle was 22.23 inches; bottom diameter, 15.72 inches; top diameter, including the lip, 18.85 inches. The lip extended 1.750 inches from the top and was indented 0.28 inch with rounded corners. Cooperating threads on receptacle and lid were 3.5 inches long and spaced at 45 intervals around the periphery.

The lid had a bottom diameter of 19.850 inches, with the dome-shaped handle section 17.750 inches in diameter. The overall height of the lid was 3.85 inches. Two tapered openings were cut into the lid 8.5 inches at the narrow end and flaring from the center line to the periphery. Two arcuate openings were cut into the lid into which the lid plate lugs were fitted. A circular lid plate, having a diameter of 19.0 inches, fitted with receptacles for the operating lugs and having openings therein normally at a position 90 from the corresponding openings in the lid, was attached to the lid by the screw assembly shown in FIGURE 2, using a inch bolt and nut assembly.

Extrusion springs were attached to the receptacles in the lid plate and fastened to the lid perpihery to maintain the lid plate in normally closed position.

The assembled can provided a closed container readily openable for disposal of waste. Similar cans of 32 and 40 gallon capacity have also been tested successfully.

Generally, the receptacles and closures of this invention can be formed from any suitable material such as metals and thermoplastic materials well known in the art, such as the polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene-chloride, polyesters, polyamides, and the like, as well as thermoplastic rubbery materials, all of which ar well known in the art. A particularly preferred class of thermoplastics are those formed from the mon-o-l-olefins having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule. Representative examples of these thermoplastics are the polymers of ethylene, propylene, l-butene, and the like.

Generally, any conventional and well known forming method can be employed to make receptacles and closures of this invention, such methods including blow molding, injection molding, stamping, casting, and the like.

Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A closure unit comprising a body of circular form having a peripheral flange by which its connection with a receptacle is facilitated, said body having an ingress aperture therethrough,

a plate disposed against the underside of the body, said plate having an opening therethrough matching said aperture and so positioned as to be out of register with said aperture when said closure is normally closed,

spring means connected to said plate and said body biasing said closure in a normally closed positioned so as to keep said aperture and said opening out of register,

a pivot post extending through said body center and through said plate for pivotal support of the plate against the underside of said body,

means connected to said plate and extending through said body for rotating said plate from the normally closed to an open position so that said aperture and said opening are in register and ready access to the interior of the receptacle is provided, and

said body being further provided with handle means supported by a plurality of bosses spaced apart along the length of said handle means and so positioned that said pivot post extends through said handle.

2. The closure member of claim 1 wherein said body member has substantial inherent rigidity provided by handle means spaced above and extending across the top of said body member, said handle means being attached to said body member through a plurality of bosses located at either end of and in the substantial mid-point of said handle means.

3. The closure unit of claim 1 wherein said parts are composed of a thermoplastic material.

4. The closure assembly of claim 3 wherein said thermoplastic is polyethylene.

5. A closure unit according to claim 1 further characterized by being provided with a receptacle body portion having a substantially completely open top over which said closure unit comprising said body and plate member cover, said body portion having two apertures spaced 180 apart on a recessed area on opposite sides of said handle, said plate also being provided with two matching openings spaced 180 apart and being spaced each from the matching openings in said body member and said body member being further provided with an arcuate slot formed through the body adjacent the periphery thereof through which the means for rotating said plate member extend and are connected thereto.

6. The receptacle and cover according to claim 5 wherein said cover member has substantial inherent rigidity provided by handle means spaced above and extending across the top of said cover member, said handle means being attached to said cover member through a plurality 5 of bosses located at either end of and at least the substantial mid-point of said handle means.

7. A closure unit according to claim 1 wherein the body member and plate member are conically shaped and the plate member snaps into the outer body member and wherein each of the body member and inner plate member have two matching holes spaced 180 apart, but which are normally out of register when the container is in a normally closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1957 Belanger 22033 4/1953 Corriveau 222--5l6 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

